Lancaster, Ohio
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Mudhouse Mansion is located on Mudhouse Road, just off Lake Road, outside Lancaster, Ohio.
Mudhouse Mansion is one of Lancaster's most famous abandoned places. It was built sometime between 1840-1850. In 1919 the property was sold to Henry and Martha Hartman. Henry Hartman died in 1930 and the property was inherited by Lulu Hartman-Mast, his daughter. Her descendents still own the land today.
Mudhouse Mansion is supposedly haunted. The most popular story goes that a government official who lived there after the Civil War still kept slaves. He was very cruel to them, he would lock them in one of the outbuildings every night. One slaves was fed up with the cruel treatment, and one night he dug his way out, entered the house, and murdered the entire family. The family and the slaves who lived there haunt the house today.
I've also heard that the "Bloody Mary" lives there. It seems that every haunted building, bridge, or cemetery is the place where the legendary Bloody Mary murdered her children. I highly doubt she lived in Mudhouse Mansion, or that she was buried at Lucas Cemetery (Mary Jane's Grave) in Richland County, Ohio :)
Obviously I didn't try to sneak into the house. I'd love to see it, but I've heard too many stories of people getting caught. Also, I'm not sure how safe it would be to enter the house anyway - on July 17, 2003 part of the first floor caught fire and made it even more structurally unsafe.
I know I've mentioned this on other pages, but please remember that this house is on private property...that means you should try to get permission before visiting it. If you don't have permission, it's considered trespassing and you could face fines or jail time. And I've heard the owner of Mudhouse Mansion always tries to press charges.
Bob Kueppers, a website visitor and webmaster of IdeaAttic.com sent me this great photo and poem he wrote about the mansion:
In March 2006 I received an e-mail from Kerry Brunson:
I've circled three places that I think are ghosts. The top and the bottom ones show only faces. The one in the middle appears to be someone stood at the window.
In September 2006, I received an e-mail from Alex with an observation regarding one of the photos Marty Myers contributed:
In one of the pictures of Mudhouse Mansion I think I found something...you can be the judge of that, but to me it looks like a demon, with horns. Or perhaps it's a lady, but you can be the judge of that. I took the liberty of circling it for you.
In March 2007 I received the following information from Eliza E.:
Looking in the "Weird Ohio" book, my dad saw a picture of what everyone is calling Mudhouse Mansion. The real Mudhouse Mansion is gone. It was torn down in the 1970's. He said it was off of State Route 188. What everyone is calling Mudhouse Mansion is really the Mast House. Hence, the reason the owner's name is Mast. I'm not saying anyone's information is wrong. I'm just saying that something may be mixed up between the two house's histories. I just wanted to bring it to your attention. It's confused me a lot.
In October 2007 I received the following information from James:
I just thought you might like some info on Mudhouse Mansion: Mudhouse Mansion wasn't named after the road like everyone thinks...I know you might think I'm crazy, but I'm not. I'm 29, and for years my family has told me that. The reason that I know that is because my great great grandmother was born and raised in the real mud house which the road was named after. It was a mud and wood constructed house. They call the current Mudhouse Mansion this name only because the address is Mudhouse Road. Over years it went from the house on Mudhouse road to Mudhouse Mansion...which sounds better?? lol
For more photos, please click here to view photos contributed by Marty Myers.
For more information about Mudhouse Mansion, check out the following websites:
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